Volunteers Attempt To Set A CPR World Record

ST. PETERS, MO (KTVI) – It’s was a life-saving attempt at a world record in St. Peters this weekend. Volunteers tried to set the record for “most people taught CPR in 24 hours”. Most who came to the event at Ft. Zumwalt East High School to learn had never needed to know CPR. They never knew who needed it…or so they thought. No one would have guessed the three healthy women greeting people on their way out were only there because of CPR, aside from the red “Survivor” t-shirts the women were wearing. Kim Edmonds nearly died a year ago at a Zumba class benefit for heart disease. “I had literally done the warm up. I came off the stage. I was talking to 2 of my friends and I collapsed,” she said. She`d gone into cardiac arrest. CPR saved her. Same for survivors, Linda Dickson, and Patricia Henderson. “I was at a church meeting. I remember handing my young daughter, she was 6 at the time, a piece of paper. I passed out. I fell onto the desk,” said Dickson, a 6 year survivor. “It is the number killer of women. 1 out of 3 women die of heart disease. So, when I see something like this set up, this is awesome,” said Henderson, a 13 year survivor. The St. Charles County Ambulance District rounded up 400 volunteers for the 2 day, free, event teaching hands-only CPR; The Heimlich Maneuver for choking victims; and AED – or defibrillator training; :AED saves lives,” said organizer and paramedic, Tim Bobbit. “It`s as simple as opening the box, putting the pads on and following directions that could mean the difference between someone dying and someone living… my 8 year old son can teach me how to do it.” There were even kids helping out the instructors; reassuring for a dad, mom, and 4 sons who went through the course. “I like that he (my 13 year old son, Cameron) was able to do the Heimlich Maneuver to save the choking person. That`s what I worry about the most; when they eat,” laughed mother Robin Stull. She said they came primarily for Cameron to get training so he was better prepared to babysit his 3 little brothers. They did not set the record, but no doubt they`ll end up saving lives. They`ll certainly take that. Email: Andy.Banker@tvstl.com Follow me on Twitter: AndyBankerTV Facebook: Andy Banker on Fox 2